Wax Marketinghttps://www.waxmarketing.com
Tue, 04 Dec 2018 15:46:58 +0000en-UShourly188965660Your Guide For Designing a Virtual Reality Apphttps://www.waxmarketing.com/guide-follow-designing-virtual-reality-app/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/guide-follow-designing-virtual-reality-app/#respondSat, 01 Dec 2018 18:15:53 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14387This past year, virtual (VR) and augmented (AR) reality technologies had a reasonably slow start, with the cancellation of major projects like Intel’s Project Alloy and the HTC Daydream headset. However, despite drawbacks like these, users and business owners alike still believe that VR has a bright future with a lot of potential. Some brands like Sony even saw their sales exceed expectations when it came to the release of their PlayStation VR headset, with over 3 million sold to date. Plus, by 2020, VR technology is projected to generate more than $20 billion in revenue, and reach a global market size of over $209 billion by 2022. Virtual reality, augmented reality and even mixed reality (MR) experiences are expected to dominate the digital space in the coming years. Why? Because 2D just doesn’t cut it anymore! We all remember the fire that Pokemon Go ignited — and it wasn’t just a frenzy, it was an international sensation. Users were enthralled that they could enter the Pokemon universe and interact with Pokemon in the streets, in their offices, and throughout their cities. And although the fire cooled to a slow ember for that game specifically, users still have a fascination […]

]]>This past year, virtual (VR) and augmented (AR) reality technologies had a reasonably slow start, with the cancellation of major projects like Intel’s Project Alloy and the HTC Daydream headset. However, despite drawbacks like these, users and business owners alike still believe that VR has a bright future with a lot of potential.

Virtual reality, augmented reality and even mixed reality (MR) experiences are expected to dominate the digital space in the coming years. Why? Because 2D just doesn’t cut it anymore! We all remember the fire that Pokemon Go ignited — and it wasn’t just a frenzy, it was an international sensation. Users were enthralled that they could enter the Pokemon universe and interact with Pokemon in the streets, in their offices, and throughout their cities. And although the fire cooled to a slow ember for that game specifically, users still have a fascination and intrigue for VR, AR and MR technology.

VR is the future of digital design and user experience. Are you ready?

Brands Using Virtual Reality

Business owners are looking into virtual reality not only for entertainment, but also to enhance their brand. Dozens of companies are currently working to integrate VR to their user experience, and some companies have already done so. A great example of a notable brand that’s welcoming web design services and VR into their UX is Lowe’s.

Visualizing and conceptualizing home projects can be difficult, even when they’re illustrated. With the launch of their Lowe’s Holoroom, users can get an intuitive experience to constructing and viewing the room of their dreams thanks to VR and AR technology. IKEA is also a great example of a major brand embracing VR. However, instead of helping users visualize a room, they’re giving their customers the opportunity to go virtual reality shopping!

Another company that’s offering VR experiences in a different way is YouVisit. YouVisit, an immersive tech company that’s powered by Aria, gives users the ability to dive into an immersive and interactive experience in 360°. You can participate in a virtual tour on a college campus, or view a hotel room all from VR goggles. Among their clients are colleges like Harvard University and Ohio State.

Understanding VR

The sure fire, best way to understand VR is to immerse yourself in the technology itself. A very cheap, effective and affordable way to start is with Google Cardboard. With over 10 million Cardboard VR sets shipped, and over 160 million app downloads, it’s easily one of the most successful rollouts of VR to the mainstream users have seen thus far. YouTube also has a selection of VR experiences you can try out, and there are even VR roller coaster apps you can download that are compatible with Vive and the Oculus.

Once you’ve decided what kind of VR headset you want to try (whether it’s with PlayStation Goggles or Cardboard) begin your mobile app development journey by being conscious of how your individual experience with VR goes. Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you like how you were introduced to the virtual space?

Can you interact with the virtual world, or are you just an onlooker?

Which of the above do you personally prefer and why?

How long would you spend in the experience?

Do you feel comfortable with the experience? (Nausea or dizziness at all?)

These questions and how you answer them will help you understand key elements you need to consider when drafting your brand’s virtual reality design because VR, if anything, is truly about the experience.

Tools You Need

If you don’t have any experience in VR design, but are curious about how to become a virtual reality designer, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll be going over some VR software design kits (VR SDK) you can use to create a virtual reality experience for your users.

Different VR SDKs were created for specific devices. Therefore, prior to beginning your VR app design, you need to decide which device you want your app or experience to appear in. The major devices that offer VR compatibility are companies you’re probably already familiar with:

Google Cardboard

Google Daydream

PlayStation VR

Oculus Rift

HTC Vive

Samsung Gear VR

Each device has their own SDK that developers can use to create and design virtual reality environments. It’s important to remember that not every VR experience is compatible with every mobile device. For example, the Google Daydream only works will a small division of mobile devices listed here. If you want to reach iOS users with Google Daydream, unfortunately, you’re out of luck. Thankfully, Google Cardboard is compatible with iOS devices, so if your target audience is Apple users, develop your app there.

Be sure to also check what Google’s design guidelines for virtual reality are so you know what rules to follow. Carefully think about what devices your users will be using when accessing your app and where you want your brand to be present. Then, when finalizing your choice on which VR SDK you want to develop your VR experience with, be sure to check if that software is compatible with the mobile devices you’re trying to reach!

VR for Gaming

Image Source: Unity.com

For businesses that are looking to enter the VR and mobile app development space by producing a game, Unity is the essential and the ultimate game development platform. Everything, from the Angry Birds game series, to Temple Run and Pokemon Go, was crafted using some version of a Unity engine. To begin designing your virtual reality gaming app, Install the Unity Beginner Version for personal use:

Once you’ve launched the program, begin by starting a new project and creating a Cube. Head over to Game Object, then click 3D Object, and select Cube.

Press File and hit Save Scene.

In order to enable VR, go to Edit, click Project Settings, then check the box that says Virtual Reality Supported.

To view your scene in DK, hit Play at the top of the interface.

The steps above will only get you to a simple non-landscaped 3D environment. If you’re a beginner looking for ready-made 3D environments, go to the Asset Store to purchase one or download one for free. Once you’ve chosen your environment, import the design to Unity and open it to begin editing the features to your liking and exploring your new digital space!

Rewind and Recap

Although this technology can still be said to be in its infancy, there are a solid amount of tools and options available for developers on the web. Many of these services have beginner tutorials that will walk you through each stage of development. In most cases, you don’t even need to have prior coding knowledge.

Yes, VR can be intimidating to beginners, but hopefully this post has given you some insight on how to get into VR design with some essential tools that will help get you started. Let’s review the tips one more time:

Think about what kind of VR experience you want to provide for your audience by looking at what some major brands have accomplished already.

Understand the experience of VR by experiencing VR. Note what your personal preferences are and what you would want to see as a user.

Consider your target audience and what kinds of devices they would be using to access your app.

Determine what VR SDK you will develop your app on based on your users.

TheresePalmere is a content writer and consultant for Aumcore, a digital marketing agency that specializes in web design services. She specializes in social media marketing and writes about everything, from web design and mobile app development, to emerging marketing trends.

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/guide-follow-designing-virtual-reality-app/feed/0143875 Tips for Giving Holiday Business Giftshttps://www.waxmarketing.com/5-tips-giving-holiday-business-gifts/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/5-tips-giving-holiday-business-gifts/#respondThu, 29 Nov 2018 23:40:41 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14402For B2B companies, particularly those in the services industry, deciding whether to send a gift during the holidays can be a difficult decision. Once the precedent has been set, it’s probably necessary to make it a tradition. Deciding what to give can be a pretty challenging endeavor as well. The following are five tips for giving holiday business gifts: Decide the goal for giving a gift. Is it simply to say “thanks for your business?” Do you see it as an opportunity to reinforce or remind clients (or potential customers) about your company? Sometimes it’s simply because all your competitors provide gifts. Whatever the reason, make sure you know what you want to achieve. Simple thank you items don’t have to be expensive or even that memorable. Something that needs to reinforce the brand should be a bit more carefully designed. Determine the recipients of the gift. Are you providing something for the entire office, or is this a memorable gift for an important buyer? Do you need to order 100 or 1000? Understanding the quantities that you need to deliver can help make that decision, as logistics can be tricky with heavier or fragile items, or those that need […]

]]>For B2B companies, particularly those in the services industry, deciding whether to send a gift during the holidays can be a difficult decision. Once the precedent has been set, it’s probably necessary to make it a tradition.

Deciding what to give can be a pretty challenging endeavor as well. The following are five tips for giving holiday business gifts:

Decide the goal for giving a gift. Is it simply to say “thanks for your business?” Do you see it as an opportunity to reinforce or remind clients (or potential customers) about your company? Sometimes it’s simply because all your competitors provide gifts. Whatever the reason, make sure you know what you want to achieve. Simple thank you items don’t have to be expensive or even that memorable. Something that needs to reinforce the brand should be a bit more carefully designed.

Determine the recipients of the gift. Are you providing something for the entire office, or is this a memorable gift for an important buyer? Do you need to order 100 or 1000? Understanding the quantities that you need to deliver can help make that decision, as logistics can be tricky with heavier or fragile items, or those that need to be refrigerated. Companies that provide customized treats can often be much more convenient, especially if they handle orders for multiple recipients.

Be sure your gift is personalized with the company logo. Although this seems like an obvious choice, often businesses will give edible gifts or others that are not branded. Even if your gift is mainly as a thank you, it should have some type of corporate brand on it. It’s often the same cost as buying them from Costco, and it’s much more memorable.

Be sensitive to religious beliefs. I’m a firm believer in sending holiday gifts early in December, or even right after Thanksgiving to avoid a close association with Christmas. This has become even more important as our workforce becomes increasingly diverse. (Also, it helps your gift stand out from the “glut” of cards and gifts that normally show up the last two weeks of the year.)

Make sure your gift is useful. This means either it’s delicious to consume, or the client can actually use it in some manner. We all have enough coffee mugs so be creative. Jump drives, or even a handy pair of scissors are going to be much more memorable than some tchotchke that simply clutters up a desk.

Whenever I’m asked, I usually recommend a classy, consumable treat. Treats can be shared around the office, or brought into a meeting during the holidays. Packaging is usually easy to brand as well.

One thing is for sure, holiday business gifts that goes well with coffee are always going to be a hit. I’m excited to offer a special promotion on gifts from Lotus Biscoff Bakeries. The pails, boxes and other options are packaged well (with a nice option to add your brand!) and the treats are delicious. Much more unique than a normal old cookie too! Use the code WAXMKT to get 15% off any gift purchase at ShopBiscoff.com.

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/5-tips-giving-holiday-business-gifts/feed/014402How Data-Driven Facebook Marketing Can Future Proof Businesseshttps://www.waxmarketing.com/data-driven-facebook-marketing-can-future-proof-businesses/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/data-driven-facebook-marketing-can-future-proof-businesses/#respondTue, 27 Nov 2018 14:15:39 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14393When marketing is done, it’s not a matter of randomly coming up with campaigns out of the blue. It requires a strategy that works best when driven by supporting data. The same is true if you intend to do Facebook marketing. Facebook has proven that it has evolved from a mere social networking platform, but to an effective marketing platform as well. This is not only because of the large user base that Facebook has, but also because of the multiple tools that are geared to help make marketing in it more systematic, and more capable of achieving your goals. With that, data-driven Facebook marketing can help you achieve your desired results more efficiently. What is data-driven marketing? Data-driven marketing is making use of relevant data to craft winning marketing strategies. Doing data-driven marketing involves the collection of data from your marketing campaigns, analyzing them, and using them to aid the creation of better campaigns in the future. The data you’ll collect not only involves the demographics of your target market but also how they reacted to your previous campaigns so that you will know how you will design your new marketing campaigns. When done correctly, data-driven marketing can allow […]

]]>When marketing is done, it’s not a matter of randomly coming up with campaigns out of the blue. It requires a strategy that works best when driven by supporting data. The same is true if you intend to do Facebook marketing.

Facebook has proven that it has evolved from a mere social networking platform, but to an effective marketing platform as well. This is not only because of the large user base that Facebook has, but also because of the multiple tools that are geared to help make marketing in it more systematic, and more capable of achieving your goals. With that, data-driven Facebook marketing can help you achieve your desired results more efficiently.

What is data-driven marketing?

Data-driven marketing is making use of relevant data to craft winning marketing strategies. Doing data-driven marketing involves the collection of data from your marketing campaigns, analyzing them, and using them to aid the creation of better campaigns in the future.

The data you’ll collect not only involves the demographics of your target market but also how they reacted to your previous campaigns so that you will know how you will design your new marketing campaigns.

When done correctly, data-driven marketing can allow you to improve your lead generation, and ultimately, your conversions.

Why you need a data-driven approach in your marketing strategy?

By not adopting a data-driven approach to marketing, you are basically just coming up with a random marketing campaign with no proof that it will work for your audience. It’s like putting all your time and effort in coming up with a campaign and hoping that it works. Without data, you are just doing trial and error, which can be very wasteful of your resources.

In order to be more efficient, and in order for you to better secure your potential to meet your marketing goals, it is recommended that you adopt data-driven marketing today.

Creating an effective data-driven Facebook campaign

Citing all the benefits that data-driven marketing can do, you should have realized how important it is that you make use of data to drive all of your campaigns, including those coursed through Facebook. The following are how you can effectively make use of your data to craft your Facebook campaigns:

First things first, determine what your goals are

Just as in all your business processes, it is essential that you start with a plan. And the usual core of the plan is to identify what your goals are for what you are about to do. For your data-driven Facebook marketing campaign, it is essential that you determine what you would like to achieve so that you can focus your strategies on meeting such a goal. Usual goals for Facebook marketing campaigns include improving brand awareness, increasing followers, driving traffic to your site, and of course, generating sales.

Another reason for doing this is to allow you to categorize your data as to what are essential, and what are not. Being able to do this allows you to filter your data, and to exclude those which won’t help you achieve your goals. If the needed data is not yet available, it at least allows you to set which ones you have to prioritize in collecting.

Collect relevant data

The next step in creating your data-driven Facebook marketing campaign is collecting relevant data. Understanding which data you need to use for your campaign, you can free yourself from the need to extract information that you won’t need at the moment. Your data may come from previous campaigns, or from gathering fresh ones.

Make sure that you prioritize the needed data. If you have time, you may also be able to allocate time for data that you may be able to use in the future, but if you have time constraints, it is best if you focus on what’s needed at the moment. It is also best to equip your campaigns with the ability to collect data that may be useful in the future.

Keep your eyes on your niche

Even before you craft your campaign, you should have already identified your target market. This is because your product or service offerings should be geared toward them. Your campaign should then be focused on them as well. Don’t waste your efforts trying to win the hearts of customers outside your target market. If it happens, it happens, but don’t focus energy on achieving that.

Install Facebook Pixel

Facebook Pixel is an analytics tool that can help determine how effective your Facebook campaigns are. Specifically, it tracks the activity of users who were directed to your site by your Facebook ads. With that in mind, make sure that you have Facebook Pixel installed on your site so that you will be able to analyze how your Facebook campaigns are working. It also allows you to get behavioral data, which can greatly help you in crafting more effective Facebook campaigns.

Evaluate gathered data, then take action

With your collected data, you are now able to craft campaigns that correspond to what the numbers are showing. Please take note that your data do not work individually – there are correlations that are present so make sure that you study your data intensively and see relevant patterns and causalities that you may be able to tap in your favor.

The key is to understand your data, and putting these data into action so that you will have a campaign that will bring about the results you have for it. Not all data will be positive so make sure that you consider how you can reverse that too.

Continuously track and measure

Finally, with the understanding that data is crucial for your future campaigns, make sure that you continue to track and measure across all your channels. There are multiple tools available that can help you out in collecting and analyzing relevant data which you can then use to boost your campaigns. Use them to your advantage and your marketing initiatives will be more rewarding.

See the difference with data-driven Facebook marketing

Facebook marketing is indeed one of the most effective marketing strategies to date. Infusing a data-driven approach will make it even more effective, allowing you to achieve targeted goals. Use this guide to help you transform your Facebook marketing campaigns to data-driven wonders that will bring your brand forward, and ready to face the future of marketing.

About the Author — Kevin Urrutia is the founder of Voy Media, a Facebook Advertising Agency based in New York. He aids businesses in effectively improving sales and conversion through the effective utilization of Facebook advertising. Voy Media is an expert in determining the best approach, coming up with a unique solution for each client.

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/data-driven-facebook-marketing-can-future-proof-businesses/feed/014393The Power of Ephemeral Contenthttps://www.waxmarketing.com/power-ephemeral-content/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/power-ephemeral-content/#respondFri, 26 Oct 2018 15:15:27 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14382At first glance, ephemeral content appears to be yet another buzzworthy trend making rounds throughout the marketing industry. But after making a disparaging remark at PRSA ICON recently, I was schooled by a few marketers who helped me explain why this type of content is so engaging. I’m not alone. ntroduced by Snapchat in 2011 these kinds of stories were met with overwhelming skepticism, as marketers struggled to make sense of this new type of temporarily available content. Traditionally, marketers have always focused on long-lasting, reusable content. Investing valuable resources into a medium that is available only for 24 hours seemed very counter-intuitive to me. However, the growing popularity of social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram meant that traditional strategies also had to evolve in order to remain effective, and more importantly, relevant. Ephemeral content has become a crucial part of any well-thought-out marketing strategy. What is ephemeral content? Ephemeral content refers to any type of visual content, such as photos and videos, accessible for a short period of time. Snapchat was the first the develop a concept that allows users to exchange photos and videos that would disappear after being viewed. The company later introduced Stories, allowing […]

]]>At first glance, ephemeral content appears to be yet another buzzworthy trend making rounds throughout the marketing industry. But after making a disparaging remark at PRSA ICON recently, I was schooled by a few marketers who helped me explain why this type of content is so engaging. I’m not alone. ntroduced by Snapchat in 2011 these kinds of stories were met with overwhelming skepticism, as marketers struggled to make sense of this new type of temporarily available content.

Traditionally, marketers have always focused on long-lasting, reusable content. Investing valuable resources into a medium that is available only for 24 hours seemed very counter-intuitive to me. However, the growing popularity of social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram meant that traditional strategies also had to evolve in order to remain effective, and more importantly, relevant. Ephemeral content has become a crucial part of any well-thought-out marketing strategy.

What is ephemeral content?

Ephemeral content refers to any type of visual content, such as photos and videos, accessible for a short period of time. Snapchat was the first the develop a concept that allows users to exchange photos and videos that would disappear after being viewed. The company later introduced Stories, allowing users to share content that will be available 24 hours before finally disappearing. Other companies soon followed suit and today, Stories can be found on Instagram, Facebook and even the Facebook Messenger app.

What makes ephemeral content so appealing?

The overwhelming popularity of disappearing stories can be explained in two ways. On one hand, the act of content creation has moved from the hands of brands and companies and into the hands of consumers. This allowed them to tell their stories with an authenticity that was previously unmatched by a large corporation. And consumers crave authenticity like never before, with more than 86% of consumers citing authenticity as the deciding factor when it comes to liking and supporting a particular brand.

Also, the fleeting nature of ephemeral content creates a sense of urgency and relies heavily on the fear of missing out to elicit a specific action or an immediate response from the audience. Further supporting this claim are the statistics: Snapchat currently has 188 million daily active users, while Instagram Stories boast twice as many daily active users, reaching the 400 million-mark in Jun of 2018. But what are some of the practical marketing benefits ephemeral content has to offer?

Increasing user engagement

One of the major benefits of ephemeral content its ability to drive user engagement. Instagram provides a number of story-oriented features that are designed to engage the audience. These include swipe meters, polls, and questions. Businesses can use these features to survey existing and potential customers and receive much-needed customer feedback about specific products and/or service. Instagram Stories also come with a live feature that allows businesses to interact with their followers in real time.

Improving brand loyalty

Creating and sharing content regardless of your brand’s physical location helps develop authenticity and ensures brand loyalty. Modern consumers expect a great deal of transparency from their favorite brands and businesses can use ephemeral content to further humanize their brand. Stories can be used to show a behind-the-scenes look of the company or showcase the hard-working employees behind the brand itself.

The most important thing is to maintain the brand message and tone of voice with all your content, including ephemeral. You can sift through the portfolios of prominent branding companies to get an idea of how the pros integrate all their efforts into a cohesive strategy which helps amplify the brand’s message. By using your branding goals as a compass for your social media strategy, you can create authentic, relatable Stories which will help you build a relationship with your audience and increase customer loyalty.

Reaching a much wider audience

Users are interacting with Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook stories on a daily basis. The combined numbers of daily active users offer a large potential for extending your brand reach and engaging potential customers. One of the great ways to engage your existing following while increasing your overall reach is to use to Stories format as a vehicle for user-generated content. A single click is all it takes to showcase audience-made content and put a smile on a follower’s face once they see their work being shared by their favorite brand.

Getting the most out of ephemeral content

Never use ephemeral content as a means to spam your following with product and service announcements. Instead, use it to tell your brand story and convey your brand message. You’re working with an ephemeral medium and every piece of content you share needs to complement and elevate your audience’s digital experience. Instagram and Snapchat are both mobile-first, location-based applications that offer rather engaging branded and various other filters used to service specific events and locations.

Show authenticity by providing your following with a sneak peek into your company’s daily activities or take them behind the scenes and introduce them to the company employees. It’s important that you always act with integrity and use ephemeral content in addition to your regularly scheduled content, not instead of it. Lastly, Instagram supports Story Ads as a way to reach your audience quicker and provide potential consumers with product and service information they might be interested in even if they’re not explicitly following you.

Ephemeral content is here to stay, despite its fleeting character. It is a viable marketing tool for increasing engagement, expanding audience reach, establishing authenticity and ensuring loyalty and trust. That said, research precedes development, so make sure to an extensive research into your target audience before spending large amounts of your marketing budget developing an ephemeral content strategy that might not even work.

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/power-ephemeral-content/feed/014382How to Make Your CTAs Irresistible to Your Site Visitorshttps://www.waxmarketing.com/make-ctas-irresistible-site-visitors/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/make-ctas-irresistible-site-visitors/#commentsThu, 18 Oct 2018 15:16:06 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14371Let’s face it: The success of your marketing campaign relies heavily on how effectively you can get people to do something. Whether it’s to download a guide, join a webinar, or buy a product. Making irresistible CTAs not only encourages user engagement, but it also generates leads, cultivates customer relationships, and increases your website’s conversion rate. And with how internet-savvy the netizens have become, simply creating a site or a landing page that “looks good” just won’t cut it anymore. If you want to influence them to take action on your offers, you need to have a compelling CTA. In this post, we’ll be taking a closer look at how you can create CTAs for your website that visitors can’t ignore. Ready? Let’s get to it. 1. Optimize your website first. More than having a good-looking website, online business owners should place more value on creating a better experience for digital consumers. Why? Consider the following statistics: 40% of users will leave your site if pages take more than three seconds to load. (Source) As much as 85% of mobile users expect sites to load as fast or faster on mobile than on desktop. (Source) As a start, you can check your […]

]]>Let’s face it: The success of your marketing campaign relies heavily on how effectively you can get people to do something. Whether it’s to download a guide, join a webinar, or buy a product. Making irresistible CTAs not only encourages user engagement, but it also generates leads, cultivates customer relationships, and increases your website’s conversion rate. And with how internet-savvy the netizens have become, simply creating a site or a landing page that “looks good” just won’t cut it anymore. If you want to influence them to take action on your offers, you need to have a compelling CTA.

In this post, we’ll be taking a closer look at how you can create CTAs for your website that visitors can’t ignore. Ready? Let’s get to it.

1. Optimize your website first.

More than having a good-looking website, online business owners should place more value on creating a better experience for digital consumers. Why?

Consider the following statistics:

40% of users will leave your site if pages take more than three seconds to load. (Source)

As much as 85% of mobile users expect sites to load as fast or faster on mobile than on desktop. (Source)

As a start, you can check your website’s current page-loading performance using GTMetrix:

With that said, it pays to invest in making sure your pages load fast, regardless of what device people will be using, the volume of site traffic, and other factors.

And here are some ways you can accomplish that:

Optimize for mobile display and navigation.

Use a content delivery network (CDN).

Reduce the sizes of high-quality images.

Eliminate un-necessary third-party plug-ins.

If you’re not familiar with how a content delivery network works, it’s basically a service that delivers your page content faster by fetching data from the nearest server to the user. This reduces latency, which is the time it takes for data to travel from server to the ‘end user’.

2. Learn more about visual marketing.

Not everyone who dives into digital marketing is well-equipped for the task from the get-go. Sometimes, a lot of research is required, especially if the goal is to understand the minds of online users.

One marketing discipline every agency should invest in researching is visual marketing.

You can easily harness the power of visuals in your marketing material by creating ad banners, email sign up forms, or blog posts that contain visually appealing design and colors.

The focus is more on providing images, videos, and other multimedia to attract people’s attention. Just don’t overdo it or you’ll risk making your website cluttered.

You can use online photo-editing tools like Canva or BeFunky if you’d like to try your hand at creating engaging images:

For creating stunning infographics, we also suggest using Venngage. They offer a wide range of design templates that you can tweak to suit your specific content needs.

Infographics are increasing in popularity, and many agencies use them to explain services, share insights, and teach people how to do specific things. Here are some helpful tips about using CTA in infographics you should know about:

Tell people specifically what you want them to do. Example: “Follow us on Twitter”, “Download our PDF”, “Schedule a free consultation”.

Position the CTA at the bottom of the infographic. This is because you want them to take action, but only after they’ve gone through the amazing stuff you’ve shared in the infographic.

Design your CTA to stand out from the rest of the infographic. This means making the CTA really ‘POP’ and not just blend in almost invisibly with the rest of the image.

Venngage offers free infographic templates to use which lets users edit even with minimal knowledge in graphic design.

3. Harness the power of words.

CTAs are, in essence, just a bunch of words strewn together that tell people to do something. But just using random works isn’t going to get you the results you want from site visitors.

There are CTA sentences or phrases that have continuously produced amazing results for agencies, and some of them are the following:

“Get Started Today”

“Sign up for FREE”

“View/Book a LIVE Demo”

“Contact Us Now”

“Learn More Here”

You may have noticed a pattern from the examples shared. They either create a sense of urgency or encourage people to act now or today. This encourages them to take action immediately, which is what you want.

And when you combine good design with a good choice of words, you’ll definitely end up with CTAs that are powerful and produces results. You can even include them in other aspects of your content marketing, such as in how to end an email, or in your email subject lines.

Just don’t forget to make the text the center of attraction, so people know exactly what it is you want them to do.

Combining The Three

Let’s summarize what we’ve covered in this post. Basically, the three things you need to focus on to increase CTA engagement from site users are:

Optimize your website’s loading time;

Use visuals effective; and

Know how to use words.

Doing all three will change the face of your website for the better. You’ll end up with happier site visitors because you’ve done your part to give them the best experience. At the same time, your business benefits because they’re more likely to make a purchase or avail of a service.

And the great news is that these three things aren’t difficult to do. They also won’t take long to integrate into your business’ current development and marketing strategy.

Conclusion

It’s important to get each part right. Your business depends on it.

If you don’t think you have the necessary skills to implement the above-suggested changes yourself, we suggest hiring an expert. This may be a content writer who can create better landing page copy or a web designer who can take care of site optimization.

But make no mistake that investing the necessary resources to make these changes happen will reap amazing results, in the form of increased sales, higher leads, and better user engagement.

Just don’t forget to make adjustments if you think you could have done better. Test different fonts, colors, designs, and layouts. Sooner or later, you’ll find out which mix works best for your brand.

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/make-ctas-irresistible-site-visitors/feed/114371Twitter for Marketing – A Refresherhttps://www.waxmarketing.com/twitter-for-marketing-a-refresher/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/twitter-for-marketing-a-refresher/#commentsThu, 11 Oct 2018 15:24:05 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14365Twitter has been one of the biggest social media platforms for more than half a decade now, which means some of your potential customers are using it. 69 million people in the US are on Twitter, but what’s more interesting is that nearly half use the social network every day. While this is a known fact, very few people know how to use Twitter for marketing a brand, product or service. You may have already realized that shooting out tweets about your business every five minutes brings nothing at the end of the day. But is that a reason to rule out the platform as an impracticable marketing channel? The point with Twitter is to gain influence and grow awareness but it can’t be done by blatantly selling. You may have let your Twitter accounts languish in favor of Instagram or LinkedIn. But it’s well worth your time to dive back in and take another look. In case you’ve forgotten, here is a refresher on how to use Twitter for marketing your brand and grow your influence. Showcase your brand Your profile is the face of your business on Twitter. It is the first thing anyone scrutinizes whenever they bump into […]

]]>Twitter has been one of the biggest social media platforms for more than half a decade now, which means some of your potential customers are using it. 69 million people in the US are on Twitter, but what’s more interesting is that nearly half use the social network every day. While this is a known fact, very few people know how to use Twitter for marketing a brand, product or service.

You may have already realized that shooting out tweets about your business every five minutes brings nothing at the end of the day. But is that a reason to rule out the platform as an impracticable marketing channel? The point with Twitter is to gain influence and grow awareness but it can’t be done by blatantly selling. You may have let your Twitter accounts languish in favor of Instagram or LinkedIn. But it’s well worth your time to dive back in and take another look.

In case you’ve forgotten, here is a refresher on how to use Twitter for marketing your brand and grow your influence.

Showcase your brand

Your profile is the face of your business on Twitter. It is the first thing anyone scrutinizes whenever they bump into your handle on the platform. Too many brands don’t focus on the profile aspect. With so much competition on social platforms and every startup hyping their business to look like an international brand, you would have to put some effort to prompt clicks from potential customers. Users are overwhelmed with options and the decision to take further action or continue scrolling is only a glance into your profile away.

Use your business logo, if you have one, and avoid adding a personal touch to it. This will add to your credibility and earn your brand respect and recognition. Your bio should be short, formal and informative and all background photos should conform to your brand concept. Try a provocative call to action with a URL attached to it and use a unique landing page to measure your results. Change this up every couple of months or so, to see what works best and what doesn’t. Use hashtags in your bio as well to draw attention from like-minded users.

Above all, share interesting content

No one logs onto Twitter to look for a product to buy. On this channel, you’re judged by the curation you keep. Most people who will come across your product will do it inadvertently while checking out tweets from friends and their favorite humor handles. To blend in seamlessly, use pictures and videos that users will enjoy without compromising the message in your tweet. This not only promises to capture the attention of your followers but also prompts them to share with their followers which attract views and clicks from people who are not in your follower list. Become an account that people follow as a news stream and influence will follow.

Build your own Twitter community

If you’re starting to build your online presence, consider being the first one to follow people so they can follow back. Don’t go on following random handles. Find people who hold some benefit for your business. For starters you can follow related businesses, your customers, colleagues, competitors, and relevant influencers and handles with the information you find useful. Engage with the people you follow. Don’t just share information about your brand and product. Be active, like and re-tweet other people’s tweets. Tools like Buzzsumo can help find good folks to follow and keep you up to date on trends.

Keep tweeting

Online conversations these days are much like any other face-to-face meetings. Daily conversations with your customers build trust and attract new customers who get the impression that the people you converse with are your satisfied customers. Check the Twitter habits of your newly-formed community. Check when they tweet, what they tweet about and how people respond to the tweets. Create your Twitter for marketing strategy based on what you observe.‘Replies,’ ‘follows’ and ‘favorites’ should be responded to, and promptly. This is to build a good image on the platform and expand your online following. If it’s hard to remember to keep up, turn on notifications to keep you apprised of activity.

Use hashtags

Hashtags are there to help potential customers find your tweets. Incorporate trending hashtags in your tweets and use their popularity to your advantage. However, ensure the hashtag is relevant to your brand and tweet.Of course, you may have to alter your tweets a bit to accommodate trending hashtags as, naturally, most will not be pertinent with your normal tweets. Check to find out which hashtags would push your tweets to reach wider audiences and achieve higher levels of engagement. Use hashtags that bear the perfect combination of popularity and relevance for your chosen area or field. If you’re not sure how to do this, @KimGarst has some great advice on finding good hashtags for marketing.

Automate your marketing

It is advisable that you tweet often and predictably if you want to make the most of your Twitter marketing campaign. Tweet at least three times a day to stay relevant in the eyes of your followers. Studies have shown that tweets that score the most re-tweets are those shared at 5 pm. Tweets between 12 and 6 pm will earn you highest click-through rate (CTR), especially on weekdays. You may want to integrate these tips into your tweeting routine.

If you find this to be too much consider using one of the several online tools to schedule your Twitter activity (like Hootsuite.) With the help of such tools, you will only need to prepare your tweets beforehand and line them up for automatic posting.

Use Twitter Ads

Use of Twitter ads is one of the easiest ways to increase your Twitter following, clicks and app downloads. Engagement with ads on Twitter increased by nearly 70% last year, so it’s still an attractive (and fairly inexpensive) channel for paid media It comes with targeting features to ensure your information recipients are people you believe are potential customers. Twitter ads are highly effective, particularly when using native video. Twitter recommends you choose around four tweets to use in your ad campaign when starting. Pick tweets with the most inclusive information and strong call-to-action. They should not include hashtags to avoid encouraging people from clicking into other things. For $99 a month, ten of your tweets every day will be included in a Promoted Tweets campaign, which will be targeting your chosen audience. Hootsuite wrote a great blog recently on using Twitter for marketing and paid advertising.

You may have forgotten about using Twitter for marketing, but for many brands (particularly B2B) it’s regaining popularity. See if you can jumpstart your integrated strategy by giving this social media network a little more love.

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/twitter-for-marketing-a-refresher/feed/214365Bridging the Gap with Integrated Marketing Conceptshttps://www.waxmarketing.com/bridging-gap-integrated-marketing-concepts/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/bridging-gap-integrated-marketing-concepts/#commentsMon, 08 Oct 2018 15:15:12 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14350PRSA ICON is an appropriate name for what has become a truly iconic event in the world of communications. For the past four years, I’ve had the honor of presenting integrated marketing concepts at the conference. Each year, I’m amazed at how rapidly communicators are embracing integration and using it to their best advantage. This year’s presentation covers a bit of theory along with some pragmatic tips. In this post, I’ll cover some of the points I’ll be making here in Austin today. Here’s a link to the slideshare version of the presentation as well. Some people ask me why learn integration? Frankly, I think communicators need at least an awareness of integrated marketing concepts to remain relevant. Beyond that, using an integrated mindset creates more influence for the communications department within the organization while also providing a broader toolkit for the communicator themselves. Finally, making the jump (which really won’t be a jump soon once the silos start breaking down) into a marketing leadership position can’t be done without a strong knowledge of integrated marketing. Many of us aren’t working at a strategic level yet – so how do we introduce integration into our own work? Basically, integration doesn’t […]

]]>PRSA ICON is an appropriate name for what has become a truly iconic event in the world of communications. For the past four years, I’ve had the honor of presenting integrated marketing concepts at the conference. Each year, I’m amazed at how rapidly communicators are embracing integration and using it to their best advantage.

This year’s presentation covers a bit of theory along with some pragmatic tips. In this post, I’ll cover some of the points I’ll be making here in Austin today. Here’s a link to the slideshare version of the presentation as well.

Some people ask me why learn integration? Frankly, I think communicators need at least an awareness of integrated marketing concepts to remain relevant. Beyond that, using an integrated mindset creates more influence for the communications department within the organization while also providing a broader toolkit for the communicator themselves. Finally, making the jump (which really won’t be a jump soon once the silos start breaking down) into a marketing leadership position can’t be done without a strong knowledge of integrated marketing.

Many of us aren’t working at a strategic level yet – so how do we introduce integration into our own work? Basically, integration doesn’t happen without alignment. I think about alignment in three ways: the message, the method and the measurements. Message

On a messaging level, there are two primary tools that can help achieve alignment across not only a communications campaign but an entire marketing department. The first is what I call a Core Strategy Statement. These statements provide a pragmatic description of the how and what of an organization, or a campaign. Even work that is already underway can benefit from a statement like this, as going back to create it can help determine how well aligned your current messages may be. Checking for alignment against this message on a frequent basis – and across channels – can measure how well you’re sticking to the “intent” of the campaign.

Personas are also helpful. They tend to be a digital marketers’ best friend. When reviewing these target customer descriptions, communicators can often identify areas where they might “boost” the results of digital marketing and vice versa. Perhaps a digital marketer is advertising across a certain genre of website. Maybe as a communicator, reaching out in an editorial fashion can help create earned media that will work alongside those banner ads.

Method

Salespeople (if you have them in your organization) and communications people rarely cross paths, particularly in bigger organizations. That’s a shame, because the two roles have so much in common. When I first made the leap into PR from a background in management and sales in the IT industry, I used my sales skills every day to finetune messages when reaching out to the media. In fact, the messages that are resonating for salespeople are often that same messages that will “stick” in social media, content marketing and of course direct pitching. Don’t be afraid to learn what motivates salespeople as well. If you’re working in a B2B environment, you’ve got to understand, or at least explore, how you might contribute to demand generation. Consider ways you could create more leads and incorporate specific calls to action in your own work. We don’t always have that hard line between editorial and sales these days – use it to your advantage.

Communicators have a lot to offer digital marketers as well. Once again, knowing the right call to action and ways to place it in a communications piece can help strengthen the campaign by increasing frequency and consistency, and of course creates more alignment. Remarketing is an incredible tool for communicators as well. I often give the digital marketers in my clients emails of media people that I’m trying to reach. (Most of my clients are not household names but they compete against big brands.) A well placed blog boost on LinkedIn, for example, might just warm up that journalist for my next pitch.

Measurement

Of course we have to use metrics that really matter. Impressions are no longer relevant, except when used as a baseline for reach. Likes, open rates, and even rankings don’t really drive ROI in many cases. As an industry, we’ve become locked into using KPI achievement as a definition of success, and I think that’s risky. The more measurements we share across functions, the less siloed we become and the more we can encourage cross-functional collaboration. KPI’s are important, but as a communicator you should be able to provide that you are contributing to mindshare, site traffic, demand generation and other major measurements of overall success.

Communicators want a seat at the table. But in order to get there, you have to prove you’re contributing ot the bottom line. Trying to find ways to bridge the gap between not only messaging channels but also different marketing functions, can increase your relevance and influence within an organization or client.

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/bridging-gap-integrated-marketing-concepts/feed/1143504 Big Ways to Use Livestream Marketinghttps://www.waxmarketing.com/live-stream-marketing/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/live-stream-marketing/#commentsTue, 02 Oct 2018 16:57:40 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14203Livestream Marketing and Your Integrated Marketing Plan Livestream marketing is growing in popularity in all different areas. Sports teams can now broadcast their games across the internet, bands can reach a bigger crowd online and companies can market to their unique audiences. Multiple social media platforms now offer users livestreaming marketing capabilities too. Whether you want to use Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or even Twitch, there’s a platform for everyone. Due to the multi-channel accessibility lives streaming provides, businesses can reach bigger audiences than ever before. According to Marketing Week, livestream marketing is the key to building authenticity with younger generations. Sara Carter, an experienced tech expert at Enlightened Digital, agrees. “Livestream marketing is going to be most efficient when trying to reach millennials and Generation Z,” Carter says. “With the ever-growing importance of finding ways to differentiate your brand, live stream marketing just might be a good strategy to add when trying to reach these demographics.” 4 Big Ways to Use Livestream Marketing Livestream Interviews Customers want the inside scoop that’s happening NOW. Conducting “get to know me” interviews with different employees and creators can be a great way to do that. It will give your business relatability and give prospective […]

Livestream marketing is growing in popularity in all different areas. Sports teams can now broadcast their games across the internet, bands can reach a bigger crowd online and companies can market to their unique audiences.

Multiple social media platforms now offer users livestreaming marketing capabilities too. Whether you want to use Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or even Twitch, there’s a platform for everyone. Due to the multi-channel accessibility lives streaming provides, businesses can reach bigger audiences than ever before.

According to Marketing Week, livestream marketing is the key to building authenticity with younger generations. Sara Carter, an experienced tech expert at Enlightened Digital, agrees. “Livestream marketing is going to be most efficient when trying to reach millennials and Generation Z,” Carter says. “With the ever-growing importance of finding ways to differentiate your brand, live stream marketing just might be a good strategy to add when trying to reach these demographics.”

4 Big Ways to Use Livestream Marketing

Livestream Interviews

Customers want the inside scoop that’s happening NOW. Conducting “get to know me” interviews with different employees and creators can be a great way to do that. It will give your business relatability and give prospective customers a better understanding of your company’s culture and values.

Another benefit of livestreaming is that it’s able to be filmed wherever you want it to be. These interviews can take place sitting at your desk or on a set created in the meeting room.If livestream interviews are something you want to try, be sure it’s done with a professional air. Be prepared with questions to ask, act comfortable in front of the camera and know how to use the technology. Poorly done livestream marketing can become a negative reflection of your brand. If you’re unprepared, it will show. The time and preparation will pay off when audiences can tell you put effort into creating something special just for them.

How-Tos

Another great live stream marketing engagement idea is creating a tutorial. A how-to livestream can be a fun and interactive outreach. A how-to livestream doesn’t mean an artistic how-to necessarily, which is a common misconception. These live streams can range from how to write an eye-catching blog post to how to put together a great summer outfit. There are countless ways for any business type to get involved in this live stream tactic.How-tos are for anyone that’s creative enough to come up with a fun idea that customers will want to emulate. How-to livestreams can also provide an opportunity to reach a new audience, especially if you center your project on material that’s different from what your business typically gravitates towards.

Content Collaboration

If you’re afraid that the content or employees in your livestreams repetitive, don’t worry! Livestreaming is a great place for content collaborations. Inviting outsiders in will give your stream a fresh set of opinions and ideas. These individuals can be creators or influencers working in your field, or even other business owners that you think could make a positive impact. Use tactics like a back and forth conversation between CEO’s, a Q&A, or a content swap with a social media influencer in your city. There are endless options when it comes to working this into your live stream marketing strategy. Working with other influencers in your field introduces them to a new audience and gives your brand access to the audience they’ve already built. Both sides win!

Tours

Want to make your clientele feel like they know the ins and outs of your business? An office tour could do just that. Having the ability to create brand loyalty is an essential step in establishing a strong business. Allowing customers to step inside the office of the CEO, for example, could make those watching feel like part of the team. These live streams can show off your company’s personality and culture. Your office’s decoration can display an identity, and identity provides something to which a customer can relate.

The Impact of Livestream Marketing

It’s measurable. In the end, what matters is how your company and the marketing strategies you’re using are accepted. By livestreaming, your brand can get immediate, quantitative feedback on both reach and engagement. Live stream marketing is convenient, free, and super hot right now!

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/live-stream-marketing/feed/514203Marketing Plans and Customer Experiencehttps://www.waxmarketing.com/marketing-plans-customer-experience/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/marketing-plans-customer-experience/#respondThu, 27 Sep 2018 14:43:42 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14230If you want your marketing plan to be a success, the customer experience must be central to the campaign. When you put customer experience above all other factors, you can significantly improve the efficacy of any marketing campaign. Here are three different aspects to focus on when it comes to improving your customer’s experience: 1. Strong online and in person user experiences UX or the “user experience” is of huge importance in helping a customer search, find and purchase not only items they’re looking for but others that they discover as an impulse buy. Factors to consider in your UX design should include testing interaction and engagement with specific pages and post to see what draws the best response. There should also be a well-structured wireframe to help with navigation, as well as multiple opportunities to ask for help and assistance. Chat boxes can help ensure that buying momentum is not lost. UX is not only important online. Remember, the User experience is anything your customer “goes through” as they make a purchase. That means paying attention to your business location, the service they receive and other subtle factors like the environment or ambiance inside. Stores can be built with a particular flow […]

]]>If you want your marketing plan to be a success, the customer experience must be central to the campaign. When you put customer experience above all other factors, you can significantly improve the efficacy of any marketing campaign.

Here are three different aspects to focus on when it comes to improving your customer’s experience:

1. Strong online and in person user experiences

UX or the “user experience” is of huge importance in helping a customer search, find and purchase not only items they’re looking for but others that they discover as an impulse buy.

Factors to consider in your UX design should include testing interaction and engagement with specific pages and post to see what draws the best response. There should also be a well-structured wireframe to help with navigation, as well as multiple opportunities to ask for help and assistance. Chat boxes can help ensure that buying momentum is not lost.

UX is not only important online. Remember, the User experience is anything your customer “goes through” as they make a purchase. That means paying attention to your business location, the service they receive and other subtle factors like the environment or ambiance inside. Stores can be built with a particular flow in mind to help customers “find” the most popular brands. Internal digital signage may notify a customer of specials offers, coupons and other ways to save money and push inventory.

Even less traditionally commercial businesses like healthcare are engaging patients through print graphics designed to improve their customers’ experience while they are waiting to be seen. Patient engagement through visuals like waiting room monitors demonstrates that real-world UX is not only relevant but critical to retain a competitive edge.

2. Relevant, Interesting Content

Another way the customer experience is critical for a successful marketing plan is of course content. People are unlikely to engage with things that they find irrelevant. Know your audience, and learn what content will capture your target demographic, as well as which platform on which it will be best received.

Platforms like YouTube may appeal most to a younger demographic, but preferences can be channel dependent. Don’t assume because of someone’s age they’ll “prefer” a certain platform.

3. Powerful Engagement

Lastly, customer experience is vital to your marketing campaign because it requires engagement to be successful. Marketing, of course, is not a one-way activity but much more interactive. Engagement is critical in fostering brand intimacy and loyalty

Plan your marketing campaign genuinely centered on the customer. A strong experience backed by good, relevant content increases the potential for them to engage, interact and eventually, buy.

]]>https://www.waxmarketing.com/marketing-plans-customer-experience/feed/014230New Scholarship Program for Aspiring Women Leadershttps://www.waxmarketing.com/new-scholarship-program-aspiring-women-leaders/
https://www.waxmarketing.com/new-scholarship-program-aspiring-women-leaders/#respondFri, 21 Sep 2018 14:18:37 +0000https://www.waxmarketing.com/?p=14321We’re excited about the progress women leaders in the workplace have been making this year with news of GM’s C-suite leadership and other announcements like Pepsi’s charge to have women constitute 40% of its management team. Aspiring women leaders may still be discouraged by poor statistics, however. Less than 5% of Fortune 500 companies listed female CEOs in 2018 (source). Under-representation of women in the business world can mean continued wage inequality, poor company policies on health and maternal care, and an inability to reach female customers effectively. Luckily, companies like Toptal are making strides to change those numbers and help smart, talented women earn the roles they deserve. Toptal, an exclusive network of top freelance software developers, designers, finance experts, and project managers, has a scholarship program for aspiring women leaders in 2018-19. Aspiring women leaders are eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant and a year of mentorship from a Toptal expert. The Toptal scholarship program is available to women 16 years and older with a passion for changing the world. They must have a specific community or cause they are excited about and be pursuing some type of education program. Every applicant is expected to have an idea for their community or cause, a plan to make […]

]]>We’re excited about the progress women leaders in the workplace have been making this year with news of GM’s C-suite leadership and other announcements like Pepsi’s charge to have women constitute 40% of its management team. Aspiring women leaders may still be discouraged by poor statistics, however. Less than 5% of Fortune 500 companies listed female CEOs in 2018 (source).

Under-representation of women in the business world can mean continued wage inequality, poor company policies on health and maternal care, and an inability to reach female customers effectively. Luckily, companies like Toptal are making strides to change those numbers and help smart, talented women earn the roles they deserve. Toptal, an exclusive network of top freelance software developers, designers, finance experts, and project managers, has a scholarship program for aspiring women leaders in 2018-19. Aspiring women leaders are eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant and a year of mentorship from a Toptal expert.

The Toptal scholarship program is available to women 16 years and older with a passion for changing the world. They must have a specific community or cause they are excited about and be pursuing some type of education program. Every applicant is expected to have an idea for their community or cause, a plan to make their goal happen, and a unique zeal for their project. The Toptal scholarship is about sponsoring girls from all around the world and making a global impact. A prize will be awarded to a current resident from Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

To learn more about this scholarship program for aspiring women leaders, hear from mentors and past winners, and see the impact of the program click here.

Here at Wax Marketing, we’re proud to be one of the 38% of businesses owned by women in the United States. We’re also well aware of inequalities that female-owned businesses face, like earning 61% less revenue. Women are also more likely to have an unstable retirement, from their lower salaries resulting in smaller 401ks (source). When it comes to gender equality, in general, the US is ranked 47th.

Representatives from the company have remarked that”Toptal is empowering the next generation of female leaders. If you want to change the world, we’ll help you to rise to achieve it.”

The good news is that women are taking secondary education by storm, 71% of women are expected to graduate, as opposed to only 61% of men. Unfortunately, being more educated actually means that women are making less, women in specialized professions make 73.7% of what men in those positions earn, and women executives make only 72.3% of their male counterparts (source). Mentors and financing are imperative to female success in the business world, and the best way to ensure that women have access to these resources is by putting more women in power. More women higher up can offer other women jobs with fair wages, good healthcare, and workplaces free of sexual harassment. If the future is going to be female, we’re going to need some powerful women leading the charge. Thanks to Toptal for helping to further that aim!